Saint-Étienne – Chamrousse

Distance: 197.5 kilometers.

A definite mountain stage, it starts with a Category 3 and hills for 134 km followed by a Category 1 up and over Palaquit and the finish is a Hors Catégorie climb to Chamrousse. We find out who in the top ten can climb, and who is ready for the Polka Dots.

The answer to those questions is Vincenzo Nibali, who won the stage, the Polka Dots, and increased his overall lead.

This stage was obviously designed by a fan of the Marqis de Sade, the race began at noon with the air temperature at 37°C/98.6°F [normal body temperature] and continued through the hottest part of the day. Three riders [Arthur Vichot, Daniel Navarro Garcia & Janier Alexis Acevedo] dropped out, and Alexander Porsev was unable to finish within the time limit.

Welcome to the Alps…

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 56h 44′ 03″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 341 points
Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Polka Dot] 70 points
Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 082 ) 3 [White]

Team: AG2R La Mondiale ( ALM – 081-089 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
Combative: Alessandro De Marchi ( Ita – CAN – 053 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 03′ 37″
3 Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 082 ) + 04′ 24″
4 Thibaut Pinot ( Fra – FDJ – 127 ) + 04′ 40″
5 Tejay Van Garderen ( US – BMC – 141 ) + 05′ 19″
6 Jean-Christophe Péraud ( Fra – ALM – 081 ) + 06′ 06″
7 Bauke Mollema ( Ned – BEL – 061 ) + 06′ 17″
8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 06′ 27″
9 Alberto Costa Rui ( Por – LAM – 111 ) + 08′ 35″
10 Leopold Konig ( Cze – TNE – 201 ) + 08′ 36″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]